Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween's here, and today we'll see lots of people in costume. Some will go all out. Others--like me--just add a little something out of the ordinary, to shake things up a bit.

I've still got two kids of trick-or-treating age, and one of the other two are in the 'bordline' zone. All of them are old enough to go out without one of us parents going along. So, when Beggar's Night came this week, Mrs. Nylon Gene and I got to stay home and hold down the fort, passing out candy and seeing whether anyone did a double take at my legwear choice.

Legwear lends itself well to costumes, as was evident by observing all those who came to our driveway looking for candy. It used to be just about the only time males could wear tights or other hosiery without drawing odd glances. That, of course, has changed considerably these past several years, due in large part to advocacy activities of ACTIVSKIN and other sellers of men's legwear. Although most days, camo tights like these would probably draw at least a few comments, last night they didn't even warrant so much as a second glance.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Well, now that 3 days have passed since my radio interview on The Mancow Show--and it has not aired--we can safely assume the worst about what happened. It's nearly unavoidable to assume that my answers simply did not lend themselves to ridicule and mockery. Unfortunately, rather than air the interview as it took place, Eric Muller simply canned it.

I was interviewed on Tuesday morning (Oct. 27) via phone, around 8:10am Eastern Time. I had taped it on a digital recorder, but inadvertently erased it, so I can't upload the audio, unfortunately. However, going from memory, Eric started out by offering the backhanded compliment about how brave I must be for coming on the show to be interviewed about men's pantyhose. He then went on to ask why I was doing it, as well as about the 'mantyhose' in general.

In answering, I first said I wanted to clarify some issues that have been associated with this whole thing since the flurry of press activity in the U.K. last month, following the launch of the men's legwear line in a London department store. I said that what we're doing at ACTIVSKIN was very different than how the British press have tried to portray this trend. Men who are wearing our legwear are all about practical, functional benefits of the legwear--not wearing flashy prints combined with mini-kilts, and adopting silly-looking styles. I said the men's legwear trend is about men wearing legwear in a completely masculine setting and how many 'regular guys' have been buying ACTIVSKIN over the past 10 years and the trend seems poised on a 'tipping point' that is becoming more readily accepted by many. During the interview, he did give me ample opportunity to give the website addresses for both ACTIVSKIN and The Nylon Gene blogsite.

At the time, I appreciated him providing me that opportunity--that is, until I've come to realize he had decided to can the whole interview, and not even air it. I downloaded the audio file for the entire morning show to make sure for myself, but it is most definitely not there. Nor did it air the next day either. The interesting thing is that I counted at least five different 'teaser' lead-ins he did leading up to our conversation (which was taped, BTW) including one that said he would be "minutes from now". Yet, the interview never aired. I wonder what listeners thought when the promised 'mantyhose interview' never materialized?

When I inquired about this in an email to my show contact, he reminded me that they had originally said it may be aired live, or taped for later. Of course, I assumed that would mean later in the show--especially since the website even listed me by name as a guest, with a mouse-over notation that read, "Manty Hose" (see picture at right). In any case, given that it's now Friday and the segment has not aired, I think it's apparent that I proved unable to be manipulated into mockery by the Mancow.

I've now been interviewed a number of times on radio, as well as TV, so I have some basis for comparison, and I think the staff of the Mancow Show should be ashamed of the way they treat guests on their show. This is the sort of thing you would associate with going on The Jerry Springer Show. I was fully prepared to answer questions that were hostile, and after listening to his show for a few days prior, I assumed he would attempt to poke fun at me and what I was representing. As I've written elsewhere, I figure I need to be ready to 'walk into the lions den' if I'm going to be the point guy for men's legwear. However, it seems rather cowardly to simply can the interview in such an abrupt way just because he found it difficult to make sport of me.

It shows a complete disregard of the value of my time that I spent preparing for this interview, responding to their requests for extensive information, talking points, etc. We even sent them a free sample of ACTIVSKIN legwear to try out! Mancow represents the worst elements of 'entertainment' media today.

Probably the most ironic aspect of all this is what Mancow said just before the interview, on an unrelated item. He said,

"... it doesn't matter what you say. I'm tellin' you, it doesn't matter what you say--people are gonna hate you. So don't worry about it. To thine own self be true."

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Are there any Nylon Gene readers that actually heard the Oct. 27 interview on The Mancow Show? I used my digital recorder to tape it from the online, "Listen Live" link--and then proceeded to inadvertently delete it. Next I downloaded the audio file of the day's show, hoping to be able to hear it played back. But I found that the audio file doesn't seem to contain anything other than several setups he did for it, preceding the interview itself. Murphy's Law has certainly not been repealed...

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I just finished the interview with Eric Muller, The Mancow, this morning and it went just about as expected. I anticipated a fairly hostile reception, and wasn't disappointed in that. To be fair, Mancow tried to avoid his natural inclination to simply insult and mock, then hang up. Unfortunately, the segment was followed immediately by citing a 'news' item that betrays a mindset that draws parallels between men's tights and homosexuality. (coincidence? I think not...)

Was it a mistake to go on air for an interview like this? I don't think so... One thing that needs to happen to move men's legwear further away from silly stereotypes is to take the fight right to the enemy--such as walking into the lion's den like this. If men who wear legwear constantly shy away from those who want to call it 'stupid', make insinuations about their masculinity, or otherwise mock--we'll continue to reinforce the stereotypes that still exist in some people's mind. That is, some people will continue to draw parallels with feminized men, unless we demonstrate that we are ready to face down those who want to insult or belittle.

Is Eric Muller 'the enemy'? Not really, but he's certainly hostile to the idea of men's legwear and representative of a certain segment of society that still holds sway to a certain extent. I'm not referring to conservative/libertarian political leanings--as that could also describe myself, too. I'm referring to the mindset that defines masculinity by superficial trappings, while overlooking the things that define authentic manhood. The clothing that's associated with males has changed drastically over time--even as recently as since the 1970s. (Remember what we used to think about men who wore earrings?...) But the traits that truly define maleness changes very little over time.

So, the men who legwear need to be ready to demonstrate their manhood by stepping forward and acknowledging they wear it to those who might not be too sympathetic to it, and saying, "so what? I know who I am." They need to be confident enough in their masculinity to wear their tights in a way that conveys that confidence to all they meet. The one complimentary thing Mancow said during the interview was a remark about my being pretty brave to go on his show knowing what was likely to happen. I take some satisfaction in being able to draw even that small acknowledgement from him.

While it's too bad we couldn't take more than a superficial look at the topic, I understand the limitations of air time. Yet, I'm hoping there are some here reading this because they first heard about it on The Mancow Show. BTW, thanks Eric, for giving me the opportunity to give the website and blog address.

We've seen it many times before: when people take the opportunity to learn more about men's legwear and the practical reasons why men are wearing them, they come away with a much more positive attitude towards it. The superficial approach that portrays it as men trying to be women is what continues to drive negative attitudes--but it's not an accurate portrayal of the vast majority of men who are wearing legwear today.

If you're new to the blog because of listening to the radio interview, I'd encourage you to go to the category links in the righthand column. Find the area that's closest to your situation, whether that be leg health, athletic benefits, outdoorsmen applications, etc, and read some of the articles here. You can also learn a good deal from looking over the Media Blogroll. I put it all out there, the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you'll see articles that reinforce the Mancow mindset, BUT you'll also find those that take a more insightful approach, too. One thing that's clear, the 'mantyhose' is being talked about a lot these days. There must be something to it.

And, guys, if you're one of the many thousands and thousands of ACTIVSKIN customers who're already wearing legwear, do so with confidence--whether with shorts or not--and don't let questions from others cause you to doubt yourself.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

A heads up for Nylon Gene readers: I'm scheduled to be interviewed by Eric Muller on the 'Mancow Muller' Radio Show this Tuesday, October 27th. I'll be on the air about 7:10am (CDT). The show is nationally syndicated and carried on many local radio stations. You can go to the show's website at www.mancow.com to see if a local station in your area carries the show. If not, go to the website around the time of the interview and listen live.

I'll try to post the audio of the interview where you can listen not too long afterwards. I don't know exactly how it will go, but I'm hoping that the national exposure will generate some beneficial spinoff publiciity for men's legwear. Feel free to Tweet some reminders so your friends will know about it, too.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

An article at MLB.com asserts something we've been saying for quite some time. Tights are an effective weapon against the cold for athletes. The article, entitled, "Dodgers Ready to Weather Philly's Chill" (see the Media Blogroll for links) includes the following quote.

..Poole, however, said he's not aware of any player who will wear thermal underwear.

"They're wearing the Nike tights," he said. "They wick the moisture off the body. No one wears thermals anymore. It's the new technology. The tights are thinner and can be worn under the uniform and they are more like skin.

Basically, the article says Major League Baseball recognizes that thermal underwear (i.e., 'longjohns') is yesterday's technology. It keeps you warm at the price of having bulky material under your clothing or uniform that inhibits movement and doesn't feel too good in comparison to tights.

Of course, that's precisely what we've been saying at ACTIVSKIN all along. 'Warmth-without-bulk' is a great benefit for athletes who need an insulating layer that allows complete freedom of movement. And, they come in both opaque and sheer fabrics to provide greater or lesser levels of base-layer insulation, respectively. While Nike or Under Armor cite materials technology that may tweak a bit more wicking action out of the material, it comes at a premium that also drives the price much higher. ACTIVSKIN provides similar insulation value and wicking action at a much lower price. Not everyone is an MLB player or Olympic athlete--nor does everyone have Major League or Olympic budget for athletic wear, either.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The following article appeared this week in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. It does a pretty good job of describing the benefits that support hosiery--such as ACTIVSKIN Legwear--can provide to runners and other athletes.Athletes hope stockings can improve blood flow - Hawaii Features - Starbulletin.comSeveral of the various studies cited found performance enhancement from improved bloodflow in the legs, although not all of them confirmed this result. However, most did find that 'athletes experienced reduced muscle soreness and recovered from exercise more quickly." Since the majority of athletes tend to fall into the 'weekend warrior' category--rather than elite athletes such as those studied--we might expect this to be a significant benefit to potential ACTIVSKIN customers.

The article didn't focus on this, but I've posted articles here before noting the climate control benefit of nylon/lycra legwear for runners, cyclists and other outdoor athletes. In addition to the aforementioned leg compression benefits, sheer or thin opaque legwear initially provides a moderate degree of insulation for bare legs when it's cold out, yet does not cause overheating when the internal body temperature rises during exercise.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

I noted in a recent article in the Gadsden (AL) Times (Movers and Shakers Ship Supplies to Battalion Stationed in Kuwait) that among the items being shipped to troops stationed in the Mideast are pantyhose. Anyone familiar with The Nylon Gene, or ACTIVSKIN, may not be surprised at this news, but the average person on the street is not likely to be familiar with the benefits provided by nylon/lycra pantyhose for the soldier.Back in 2003/04, there was a flurry of media coverage of the use of pantyhose by U.S. troops stationed in Iraq as a defense against sand fleas, as well as chafing and blisters caused by boots and rough uniforms in that sandy climate. As a result, ACTIVSKIN received many orders from Stateside loved ones sending them to their men in uniform.

Discussion of military life has seemed to fade a bit to the background in the past couple of years. Yet, they are still there carrying out their mission. It was good to read this story about people assembling packages of goods to send over to them. I'd like to take this opportunity to also remind readers that if you have a loved one serving in the Mideast who has had to deal with sand fleas and such, you can order a few pairs of our ACTIVSKIN A677s to send over in your next CARE package--or, we can send them directly if so directed.

When ordering, be sure to take advantage of the 20% discount we offer for all active duty military. Just go to the "Great Deals" tab on the ActivSkin website. BTW, there are many styles that would do, but I suggested the A677s because they are sheer, and therefore cooler; they have a fly opening; and they glide well under pants and would be very good for avoiding blisters and chafing.

In closing, I'd also like to reprint a very good letter I received several months ago from a retired military person in support of our ACTIVSKIN legwear:

April 23, 2009Mr. Newman:

Just want to congratulate you on your endeavor to get men's hosiery into the mainstream.

I have purchased some of ActivSkins products. They were just what I needed for several endeavors. We here in the military (I am both a former Marine and Army paratrooper) have worn pantyhose for several years... simply as a means to an end, i.e. keeping leeches off our genitals during swamp training... and also as the first layer of clothing during cold weather training. Myself and others do not wear them outwardly (you are a brave man Mr. Newman!) but pantyhose are a lifesaver for us fellas in the military. BTW. Navy SEALS started to wear pantyhose for protection against leeches as early as Vietnam! Not to mention... many Marines wear them to protect aginst ticks at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

I myself have worn pantyhose during long force marches. We generally 'ruck up' with a ruck sack that weighs nearly 50 lbs or more... to include our helmets, rifles, web gear, etc. Comfilons [former brand name] hose have quite literally saved my feet and legs from all kinds of complications that come with long force/road marches. My legs feel invigorated, warm, and I love the support! Not to mention... the nylon on our feet prevents blisters, as they are a guard against socks slipping and sliding in our boots.

As for your detractor's... I see that women wear everything that we men have in our wardrobe (to include our underwear, i.e. 'boy shorts') and society is just fine with that, no friction whatsoever. Yet, let a man wear ActivSkin openly, and the hoots of derision begin. Again, I applaud you for your efforts.

Just thought I'd drop you a line to encourage you and thank you!Don't Quit!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Nylon Gene readers who are following updates added to the Media Blog will have noted addition of a link to a story entitled "Horrors of Fashion: Mantyhose" on the KXAX/NBC5 website the other day. As suggested by the title, it did not take a favorable tone toward men's legwear. Happily, today a follow-up piece was published called, "Defending the Mantyhose". This resulted from contacts I made with author/editor Greg Janda, explaining the variety of practical benefits for which men are now wearing pantyhose. The initial article approached the issue strictly from a 'fashion statement' perspective and was completely negative in tone. We commend Mr. Janda for his willingness to present counter-balancing information as well...There has been a flood of articles and blog posts focusing on the men's pantyhose (aka, 'mantyhose') trend since late September, when several British newspapers ran the story of a leading London department store launching a line of 'Mantihose' from clothing designer Unconditional. As it turns out, the mantihose in question seem to more resemble cotton/lycra blend leggings than pantyhose. The UK media muddied the waters further by combining silly-looking photos of their reporters wearing this legwear (paired with a mini-kilt, basic dress shirt and tie), with others borrowed from the e-MANcipate website.

The result has been misleading mental images of men's legwear in the public eye that conjure up connotations of modern day 'merry men' prancing about in short skirts and snakeskin tights. Needless to say, under those conditions the overwhelming public response is one of, "What the... ?"

During this time, yours truly has been working overtime to engage discussion in these many venues, where reporters essentially ask, in so many words, "Would you wear THIS?..." Respondents predictably reply, "Hell no!" Who can be surprised at these responses, if the other side of the coin is not being presented?

Our observations indicate that when the story of men's legwear (tights, pantyhose, mantyhose, etc.) is conveyed in a context of the practical reasons for which men are wearing them, people are less inclined to react in the visceral ways we see when it is presented in a context of showy, dramatic styles intended to grab the viewer and 'make a bold statement.' Men wearing legwear for leg support, added warmth, or even the comfortable feeling it provides, don't evoke the same degree of resistance among the unitiated that fashion tights with colorful patterns do. I think this is because the latter is much further removed from the current experience of most males and their loved ones today.

I would like to explore this issue further in the near future. For now, suffice it to say that I have to wonder aloud whether imagery such as found on e-MANcipate harm more than help our advocacy efforts for the men's legwear trend? I have great admiration for Chan Kraemer, the website creator, and his photographic skills, as well as his passion for promoting something so far outside the current social norms. We have corresponded on a number of occasions.

The many photographic images depicting men wearing colorful legwear in a wide range of settings has been very successful in getting the idea of men's legwear on the radar screen of many media organizations around the world that otherwise would probably never have paid much notice at all. Part of that success comes from the boldness of the tights they are shown wearing, with patterns and colors that can hardly be ignored. Yet, the vast majority of men who wear legwear--myself included--would not consider wearing these designs, let alone those men who have yet to so much as try their first pair of tights. The dilemma of promoting men's legwear is that very often it is either completely covered, or barely noticeable unless photographed up close with very high resolution.

I face the same dilemma here on The Nylon Gene. While I often wear dark-colored or black hosiery with a basic shorts and pullover shirt outfit, my position as a public legwear advocate demands a higher degree of visibility than the average guy might embrace. Some might say the black legwear is over the line, too. One distinction from the patterned tights shown on e-MANcipate is that all of the legwear I'm photographed wearing are actually men's tights or hosiery. Currently, no company is selling tights in the variety of patterns and colors depicted at e-MANcipate. With the exception of camouflage, I doubt the men's legwear market will support anything at all like what is shown in these pictures--at least in the near or intermediate future.

So, the question arises: Are images such as I've discussed above beneficial, in that they provoke much more 'buzz' surrounding them--even if most of it is negative? (the, "any publicity is good publicity" theory) Or, would men's legwear be better served having people's first encounter one in which it's depicted more akin to the way most men who might adopt it could see themselves wearing it--with information included about functional reasons why they might consider giving it a try? Although the latter alternative is more likely to evoke an initial positive response, it may not have the 'Wow' factor that gets it noticed more often. Is it better to expose a wider spectrum of people to the concept--hoping to later persuade them of the practical benefits of what was first met with mocking or ridicule?

As I've Twittered, blogged and emailed out my, "rest of the story" in the wake of the most recent publicity wave, these are the questions that have run through my mind. I would be very interested to hear what The Nylon Gene readers have to say on this...

Thursday, October 8, 2009

On Sept. 14th, I reported to Nylon Gene readers that the Santa Barbara News-Press had run a feature-length piece on men's shapewear/legwear. Some were disappointed to learn that viewing the article required a News-Press subscription, and many declined registering for one. On top of that, the article was moved to archives after 7 days and was no longer available. I've posted the text of this article on the blog, and you can see it by going to the posts for that date. The article focused on Pete Johnson, a Santa Barbara resident who tried on ActivSkin support pantyhose and Ecumen's shaper tank top. Two side articles explored these two products (and yours truly) in greater depth. My apologies for taking so long to have it posted, but my efforts were complicated by the News-Press' procedures.

Monday, October 5, 2009

This past Saturday (Oct. 3rd), we were fortunate enough to be asked by my son's cross country coach to have a tent/exhibit for ACTIVSKIN at the invitational that was hosted by Hilliard Darby High School (Hilliard, OH). I worked the event for the entire 3-1/2 hour duration, during which I had the opportunity to speak to many people about our legwear's benefits for athletes, and we even sold a few pairs on-site as well. I learned from a conversation with the girls' cross country coach that this meet was the largest one being held that day anywhere in the U.S. There were more than 1,500 athletes in attendance, along with their families and coaches...The name of the event was the Midwest Meet of Champions (MMOC) and it was Darby's fifth year of hosting it. The meet was extremely well run, with all races going off within a minute of the scheduled time.

We were fortunate enough to be located right between the Chick-fil-A tent and the Funnel Cake stand, adjacent to the concessions area, and directly in the path to the Port-a-Johns. (We took the photo at right during one of the lulls in the activity level) Consequently, although physically impossible for me to talk to more than a small percentage of that crowd, of those to whom I did not have the chance to speak, nearly all walked past the tent at some point during the meet. Our ACTIVSKIN banner was prominently displayed, featuring several photos of our legwear in use (athletics as well as general wear), as was our mannequin, which sported a pair of A876 black tights (the footless variety, with fly opening). We made sure to have a small supply of opaque tights available for on-site purchase, although this goal was secondary to the main objective of getting our name and the legwear concept in front of such a large group of people. That goal was achieved.

To be sure, there was certainly the occasional quizzical look from a passing athlete or spectator. Yet, all the while I engaged in many positive one-on-one conversations with those in attendance. Many of those began with the same quizzical looks, to which I approached and answered questions or explained the practical benefits of our ACTIVSKIN legwear. These include providing warmth-without-bulk so when runners first go out in the chilly morning air, the tights take the 'bite' out of the cold--yet don't cause them to feel overheated later when their body temperature rises during exercise. The leg support provided by the A866/A876 tights (as well as other full-support styles) help improve stamina by slightly compressing the leg muscles during exercise.

Following these conversations, they invariably left with a better understanding of our product, and a favorable impression of its benefits. As I wrote above, a few returned later to purchase a pair for their high school athlete. Many business cards, brochures and runners' articles were handed out, which we would hope will draw them back in the future--possibly to become customers. One father I spoke to told of a group of guys he runs with, several of whom might be interested in ACTIVSKIN legwear.

I had hoped for an opportunity to speak with some of the 45 coaches who were in attendance, but that was not to be--with the exception of our own Hilliard Darby coaches, of course. They are typically quite busy before, during and after such an event as this and didn't have much time to spare. I would encourage any who may have seen our tent and banner to contact me by email (see link along righthand column) to discuss possible use for their team. We offer coach discounts on purchase of legwear for their teams.

Your Fearless Blogger

Wear Your Legwear with Confidence

Winning Hearts & Minds...

ACTIVSKIN Legwear makes a bold proposition--that support tights and sheer hose are as well-suited to men as they are to women. Men are just as likely to have tired, achy legs or need some additional warmth, but haven't had the benefit of comfortable, reasonably priced legwear--until now. ACTIVSKIN fills that gap by providing a masculine alternative. You could say we're all about changing hearts & minds--from pantyhose to mantyhose...

Media Blogroll: Legwear In The News

Read Steve's legwear articles in The Examiner

BlogCatalog

*What's This About The Nylon Gene?...

Someone once noted that, "There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have 'the nylon gene' and those who don't." While DNA might not really be to blame, the fact is, Men's Legwear is a real phenomenom that's moved from The Fringe to The Edge and now appears poised to break into the public consciousness in bigger ways as more and more guys are now willing to at least give it a go. We at ACTIVSKIN have watched sales increase through 2008 and 2009 despite the nation's continuing financial woes.

Here at 'The Nylon Gene' we're scratching beneath the surface of the emerging men's legwear trend. We're looking to explore it from all perspectives and solicit candid opinions and critiques from those who've only just discovered there is such a thing, as well as those who have been wearing it for years. The media (TV, Radio, Print, Online...) have been paying pretty close attention of late, and we want to make sure that the complete picture is getting to our friends out there who are writing and talking about it and shaping public perceptions. So, pull up a keyboard and tell us what you think.